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The ACT Brumbies overwhelmed the Cats of South Africa with nine tries in a 64-0 caning in their Super 12 rugby match at Bruce Stadium here Saturday night.

The match was over by halftime with the Brumbies in full flow and wrapping up their scoring bonus point with their fifth try to lead the ragged Cats 38-0.

Wallaby flanker Owen Finegan scored the first three tries and centre Stirling Mortlock finished with 24 points from a try, eight conversions and a penalty goal. He missed two other kicks at goal.

The Brumbies showed no dislocation from the off-field problems of five of their players in South Africa almost a fortnight with a flawless exhibition of running rugby.

With Wallaby flyhalf Stephen Larkham and his scrumbase partner George Gregan calling the moves, the ACT backs had a field day running decoys and the angles and were simply too fast and well organised for the Cats.

The Cats were playing the last of their month-long four matches on the road where they have lost to the NSW Waratahs, Otago Highlanders, Wellington Hurricanes and the Brumbies.

The South Africans also had disciplinary problems with New Zealand referee Colin Hawke, having Springbok winger Chester Williams and Test centre Japie Mulder spending 10 minutes in the sin bin for indiscretions.

The Cats held their line for almost half an hour in the second half after a halftime dressing down by New Zealand coach Laurie Mains, but yielded four tries in the final stages.

The huge win continues the Brumbies push for honours this season and follows their back-to-back wins over the Stormers and Bulls in South Africa last month.

The Brumbies are at home next Friday night to the front-running Otago Highlanders while the Cats return home for a clash with the Sharks in Durban next Saturday.